Fire-escape



(N; Model.) I I W. H. WELSH.

FIRE ESCAPE No. 287,598. Patented Oct. 30, 1-883.

ziasseur 7' ifivezlan- N PETERS, Pnnmumo 'ber. Washington. 0. c.

I V UNITED STATES PATENT JQFFICE.

WILLIAM H, WELSH, F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 287,598, dated October 30, 1883.

' T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. WELsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to fireescapes; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter specified. v

The device is shown in the accompanying drawings, as follows: p

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the escape-line, the friction-block, and the belt.

Fig. 2 is a like view, showing a harness to be. used on a person that is to be let down by the escape. Fig. 3 is a view showing a person letting himself down. Fig. 4 is a viewshowing a person being let down.

The essential feature of the device is the parts shown in Fig. 1. This consists of a line, A, a friction-block, B, a belt, E, and two loops, 0 and D, through which the line passes. The line A may be any kind of a cord desired. The friction-block B will be made of leather or other pliable material. It has a loop or channel, b, for the line to pass through, and to it a loop, 0, is attached. The belt E is made of any suitable material, and the loop D is attached to it. The loops 0 and D will be made of iron, and as good a thing to use for that purpose as any other is a common harness snap-hook, as shown in the drawings. The loop 0 should, however, have a second eye, 0, which passes around the friction-block and presses against the outside of the channel-loop b, so as to press the line in the channel and give as much friction as possible; but this is not essential, for the channel may be made to fit the line so tight as to give all the friction required; or the friction-block can be held in the hand and compressed, if desired.

Application filed February 19, 1883. (Nomodeln The line passes first through the channel b,

then through the loop D on the belt, then by securing one end of the line in the building, and throwing the other out loose, as is shown in Fig. 3 or he can let another person down with it, as seen in Fig. 4. The passage of the line through the various loops 1), O, and D gives so much friction that very little power is required to secure a slow and gentle scent. V

The harness shown in Fig. 2 is designed to relieve the person being let down of the strain of the belt. It consists of a belt, F, with stirrups G G and suspending-hook H.

The operation of the device need not be further explained, as it is clearly seen from the drawings.

What I claim as new is 1. In a fire-escape apparatus, the combination, substantially as shown, of the line A, friction-blockB, belt E, and loops 0 and D.

2. In a fire-escape apparatus, substantially as shown, the combination, with the line A, of the block B, having channel I), of pliable material, and the loop 0, with part 0, adapted, as shown, to press upon the said channel when weight is applied to said loop 0, substantially as shown. g 4 3. In a fire-escape apparatus, the combination, substantially as shown, of the line A,

friction-block B, belt the harness F G H.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. w LsII.

E, loops 0 and D, and

Witnesses:

J No. K. EALLooK, ,PATRIOK H.. OooNEY. 

